This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at IUP chapter.
With winter approaching, we’ll notice that the days get shorter, it gets dark earlier, and we lose a lot of daylight and sunshine. For many people, this transition into a new season can make us feel lazy, unproductive, tired or depressed due to the lack of sunlight. To get more out your days, and to feel more productive and satisfied with your daily routine, I’ve provided some tips to get more accomplished.
- Wake up earlier. Everyone tells you to do this, and sometimes it can feel impossible to do so, but it will have such a positive impact on your day. You will have the ability to get more done, and if you do start your day earlier, you’ll have more time to relax in the evening and not be stressing over what all you didn’t have time to get done and your day will feel far less chaotic. (Image credit via @AdrienRobert https://unsplash.com/photos/FguerUFGEJI)
- Set goals for yourself. Since it does get dark much earlier, a lot of us tend to not want to leave the house passed a certain time or get sleepy much quicker than usual. However, if you set goals for what you want to get done during your day and plan out how you’ll make time to get them accomplished. This could be allotting time to get to the gym, get groceries, work on homework, etc.(Image credit via Raw Pixel https://unsplash.com/photos/CabUqKlvKX0)
- Make time to do things for yourself. Many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can make everything seem gloomy, you may feel sad or feel like you have less energy. If you feel any of these symptoms, know that you are not alone and there are many things you can do to combat these feelings. Try spending more time outside during the day, make time with friends or family even if it’s the last thing you want to do, try going to the gym, plan out your meals and make healthier choices, or whatever it is that makes you feel happy or relaxed. (Image credit via Joseph Pearson https://unsplash.com/photos/5zrYzjN8fms)
- Prioritize your time. There’s only so many things we can accomplish throughout the day before we exhaust ourselves, so rather than getting yourself severely overwhelmed, simply make a list of what’s pressing and what can wait. It’s better to have a plan of what you want done and actually have the time to do it, rather than setting unrealistic goals that will only make you feel disappointed when you can’t get it all done in one day.